Viktor Yanukovych: Presidential elections will lead to further destabilization and a split in Ukraine
Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych gave the first interview since 22 February was unconstitutionally removed from power. He told the journalists of the Associated Press about his vision of the current situation, the referendum in Crimea and shared his views on the future state system of Ukraine.
Viktor Yanukovych believes that the presidential election in Ukraine will be illegitimate. In his opinion, they will not benefit the society and the state, destabilize the situation.
Elections will be illegitimate due to the fact that the current authorities do not have legitimacy, Viktor Yanukovych said.
Constitutional reform is needed before the elections, the president said, who was removed from power.
“After the constitutional reform, it will be necessary to hold either parliamentary or presidential elections. Hasty decision-making on holding presidential elections is a way to further destabilize the situation in the country, and under such conditions any destabilization carries great threats of a split in society, even a possible split of the state, ”said Yanukovych
He added that at the moment Ukraine is falling apart as a state.
The separation of the Crimea from Ukraine, Yanukovych called tragedy, to which led the growth of protest sentiment caused by the policies of the new authorities.
“This is a vivid example when the population of such a large region held a referendum on these protest moods and actually left Ukraine. I personally cannot agree with that, ”said V. Yanukovych.
The decision not to sign an association agreement with the European Union, which led to mass protests in Ukraine, Yanukovych considers correct.
“Today, I am deeply convinced that no other decision, no matter who was the President of Ukraine at this time, could be taken. This position would be anti-popular. This position contradicted the national interests of Ukraine. Therefore, I did not sign this agreement, ”he said, adding that the contradictions should not have become a pretext for encouraging radical action.
Viktor Yanukovych admitted that it was necessary to react to the activities of the bandits and nationalists earlier.
“Rampant banditry, nationalists with fascist roots, we need to talk about it directly, we should not allow it. It was necessary to react much earlier when we held negotiations, ”he said in an interview.
According to the politician, the current authorities no longer have any influence on radical groups, or they pretend that they do not influence them.
At the same time, Yanukovych admitted that his “hand was not raised” to take decisive actions against the protesters on the Maidan.
“I quite often heard in my address a reproach from our supporters that it was time to take decisive actions in relation to the Maidan. I will tell you, my hand did not raise it to make, - he declared. “My principle is that no power is worth a drop of shed blood — I have always professed.”
Viktor Yanukovych believes that the mediators in concluding an agreement with February’s opposition leaders 21 - the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland - act unethically, without condemning the attacks on him.
“I haven’t heard any initiative from today. Although, to be honest, I have not lost hope. I have not lost hope, and it seems to me that elementary ethics should now be on the part of our mediators, ”he told reporters.
“I am a living person first of all. I signed this agreement, put my signature with them. But I didn’t even hear from them words of condemnation towards the bandits who shot at my motorcade, my guards, and more than once, ”added Yanukovych.
Recall the day after the signing of an agreement between the President of Ukraine and opposition leaders, he was removed from power in an unconstitutional manner.
Viktor Yanukovych believes that the presidential election in Ukraine will be illegitimate. In his opinion, they will not benefit the society and the state, destabilize the situation.
Elections will be illegitimate due to the fact that the current authorities do not have legitimacy, Viktor Yanukovych said.
Constitutional reform is needed before the elections, the president said, who was removed from power.
“After the constitutional reform, it will be necessary to hold either parliamentary or presidential elections. Hasty decision-making on holding presidential elections is a way to further destabilize the situation in the country, and under such conditions any destabilization carries great threats of a split in society, even a possible split of the state, ”said Yanukovych
He added that at the moment Ukraine is falling apart as a state.
The separation of the Crimea from Ukraine, Yanukovych called tragedy, to which led the growth of protest sentiment caused by the policies of the new authorities.
“This is a vivid example when the population of such a large region held a referendum on these protest moods and actually left Ukraine. I personally cannot agree with that, ”said V. Yanukovych.
The decision not to sign an association agreement with the European Union, which led to mass protests in Ukraine, Yanukovych considers correct.
“Today, I am deeply convinced that no other decision, no matter who was the President of Ukraine at this time, could be taken. This position would be anti-popular. This position contradicted the national interests of Ukraine. Therefore, I did not sign this agreement, ”he said, adding that the contradictions should not have become a pretext for encouraging radical action.
Viktor Yanukovych admitted that it was necessary to react to the activities of the bandits and nationalists earlier.
“Rampant banditry, nationalists with fascist roots, we need to talk about it directly, we should not allow it. It was necessary to react much earlier when we held negotiations, ”he said in an interview.
According to the politician, the current authorities no longer have any influence on radical groups, or they pretend that they do not influence them.
At the same time, Yanukovych admitted that his “hand was not raised” to take decisive actions against the protesters on the Maidan.
“I quite often heard in my address a reproach from our supporters that it was time to take decisive actions in relation to the Maidan. I will tell you, my hand did not raise it to make, - he declared. “My principle is that no power is worth a drop of shed blood — I have always professed.”
Viktor Yanukovych believes that the mediators in concluding an agreement with February’s opposition leaders 21 - the foreign ministers of Germany, France and Poland - act unethically, without condemning the attacks on him.
“I haven’t heard any initiative from today. Although, to be honest, I have not lost hope. I have not lost hope, and it seems to me that elementary ethics should now be on the part of our mediators, ”he told reporters.
“I am a living person first of all. I signed this agreement, put my signature with them. But I didn’t even hear from them words of condemnation towards the bandits who shot at my motorcade, my guards, and more than once, ”added Yanukovych.
Recall the day after the signing of an agreement between the President of Ukraine and opposition leaders, he was removed from power in an unconstitutional manner.
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